Simon Cowell broke down in tears as he paid tribute to the late One Direction star Liam Payne.
Simon Cowell was moved to tears as he reminisced about Liam Payne’s audition on The X Factor 15 years ago. Netflix has recently launched ‘ Simon Cowell : The Next Act’, a six-part docu-series that follows the renowned music mogul as he forms his new boyband.
However, filming in October 2024 was interrupted by the tragic news of former One Direction member Liam Payne’s untimely death at just 31, following a fall from a third-floor balcony in Argentina.
Payne first came into the spotlight on The X Factor in 2010, where he auditioned as a solo artist before being grouped into One Direction.
Despite finishing third on the show, the band achieved worldwide fame post-series.
Cowell, who mentored One Direction during their time on The X Factor, took a moment in his Netflix series to honour the late Liam Payne, whom he will “genuinely miss”. Overcome with emotion while discussing Payne’s sudden passing, Cowell paused and said, “Sorry. Oh God.”
Singer Liam Payne auditioned for The X Factor in 2010.(Image: ITV)READ MORE: Netflix stars tearfully welcome first child after needing emergency surgeryREAD MORE: Netflix to axe entire Harry Potter box set very soon
He wiped away tears, confessing, “It’s hard, you know?” He continued, “When I call his [Payne] mum and dad and just thinking ‘God…’ How do you cope with that?”
Reflecting on Payne’s character, Cowell said, “I remember thinking ‘what a sweet, humble boy.'” He added, “He was just so normal and down to earth. He always had a sparkle in his eye. I remember that.”
Recalling the public’s affection for Payne, Cowell said, “And his face, in that moment, everyone adored him.”
He admitted, “You just don’t know how you feel about someone until you lose them, you know? And whoa.”
In a heartfelt conclusion, Cowell said, “We’re just gonna miss him, genuinely miss him.
“I can’t say anymore at the moment”, he confessed before Cowell revealed that he needed to take some time alone to “just think”, leaving his partner Lauren Silverman and their son Eric behind.
One Direction star Liam Payne died aged 31 in October 2024.(Image: GETTY)
The Britain’s Got Talent judge later had a candid chat with the remaining Next Act contestants and their parents, discussing the harsh realities of fame.
He advised: “The commitment is huge. If you commit, you commit. And there’s a lot to think about.
“There are going to be things written about you that aren’t true which is frustrating, things that are said about you that are frustrating”.
“Sometimes you can answer back. Often you can’t.
“If you’ve decided that music is your career, what comes with it is huge. And you’ve got to have really thick skin to get through it.”
Simon Cowell: The Next Act is available for streaming on Netflix.
